African Agricultural Technology Foundation

The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) is a Nairobi-based lobby group which aims to increase the use of genetically engineered crops in Africa. It is funded by the US and UK governmental aid programs, and by a number of biotechnology corporations.

Established in 2002, the AATF describes itself as "a not-for-profit foundation that is designed to facilitate public-private partnerships for the access and delivery of appropriate technologies to the resource-poor smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa." 

But the rice industry website Orzya.com explained the purpose of AATF as being "to work with governments, companies, non-governmental organizations, and research centers to negotiate the sales rights of genetically modified crops and bring new agricultural technologies to the African market." 

Funding
The AATF website notes that it was established with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and The United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID).

However, Oryza.com has reported that AATF is funded by a number of biotechnology corporations, being Monsanto, Dupont, Dow Agro Sciences and Syngenta.

Personnel

 * Mpoko Bokanga - Executive Director

Board of Trustees

 * Jennifer Thomson (Board Chair)
 * Walter S. Alhassan (Board Vice-Chair)
 * Mpoko Bokanga
 * Vincent Gwarazimba
 * Assétou Kanouté
 * Kevin B. Nachtrab
 * Eugene Terry
 * Michael W. Trimble
 * Alhaji Bamanga Mohamed Tukur

Contact Details
Web: http://www.aatf-africa.org

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Centre for International Forestry
 * William S. Niebur - Design Advisory Committee

External Resources

 * African Agricultural Technology Foundation, GMWatch.org.
 * African Agricultural Technology Foundation Takes Shape, Rockerfeller Foundation, 2002.
 * Nabila Ahmed, Scientist set for GM push into Africa, The Age, August 7, 2006.